Shipping-obate



W. C. KELSO.

SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION map MAR. 20, 1918.

1,323,534. Patented Dec. 2,1919.

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W. C. KELSO.

SHIPPING CRATE. APPUCATION mso MAR.20, 1913.

1,323,534. Patented Dec. 2,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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SHIPPING-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patgntgd Egg, 2,, 919,

Application filed March so, 191a. serial no. 223,546.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER C. KnL-so, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bellevue, in the county of Jackson and State of Iowa, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates, of which the following is a full,

it may be readily replaced without 'disturbing the balance of the crate and can be constructed with very small cost.

In the following specification and drawings accompanying the same and forming a part hereof, wlll be fully described and illustrated its manner of construction and mode of operation and how used.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate complete.

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the staves with reinforcement by strips.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a portion of a hoop.

' dition to be filledand also an end view of a form for holding the crate while being filled. Fig. 7 is an end view of one of the heads. Fig. 8 is a side view of the supporting post with a section of the head.

Like characters of reference denote cor responding parts in each of the figures.

Having reference .to the drawings 2 represents the crate, which is preferably of barrel shape, and 4 the staves comprising the crate, which staves are preferably composed of straight pieces of substantially the same length and width and are set lengthwise of the crate. At each end of the staves is secured a block 5 for retaining the heads in position, when the crate is filled. The outer side of. each stave is reinforced by a strip 6 of substantially the same width as the stave but only extending a part of the length of i the same blocks 5.

the stave along its central portion. The

purpose of whicl i's not only to reinforce the stave but also, when the crate is rolled along or handled, its direction can be readily changed.

For the purpose of preventing the heads from fallingin and for further strengthening the same, there are provided four posts 7; which havethegsame reinforcements as the staves. They are also provided with They are also thickened by which they providefour square shoulders on which the heads may firmly rest. With some kinds of goodsthese posts are not a necessity.

l The staves 4: are secured to hoops or bands 8 by staples, 10, which hoops encircle the crate in substantially horizontal planes when the crate stands on one end. The ends of the hoops 8 are formed into loops, for the purposes presently to. appear.

y The crate may be, further reinforced by staves 15 and 16, which are also fastened to the staves, one end of one stayis fastened totthe stave 18 near the top and the other end to the stave 20 near the bottom, and the other stay secured to the stave 20 near the top and the other end to the stave 18 near the bottom, and these stays run diagonally around the crate.

In order to unite the staves after they are attached to the hoops 8 and stays 15 and 16. and to form them into a barrel shape, and lock them together, there is provided a key 25, shown in Fig. 5 and preferably made in three parts 26, 28 and 30. The strip or part 28 is provided with a hole 29, into which may be inserted the end of a rod or bolt so that the strokes of a hammer may drive the "part 28 upward and outward. The strip 26 consists of a thin strip of wood or metal of substantially the same size throughout, the other two pieces 28 and 30 may be of wedge shape and formed by cutting lengthwise a rectangular piece diagonally. The size may vary according to the space to be locked.

The heads 32 are preferably made of woven wire 34 or of strips of wood fastened at right angles to each other as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The ends of these strips fit interiorly of the blocks 5 on the ends of the staves. In case the four posts 7 are used, the heads 32 rest upon the thickened portions of the posts 7 In such case, the heads have four recesses 13 cut in their edges and set the same distance apart to accommodate r staves, the operatorbrings the staves 18 and of the staves on both sides over the upper a number of heads for return shipment and other purposes as will hereinafter appear.

Around the ends of the strips or theends of the wire composing the head is secured a rim 40, which may be made very cheaply of refuse pieces of wood, securely fastened together and to the strips of the head.

The'manner of assembling and using is substantially as follows: starting with the hoops 8 and stays 15 and 16 fastened to the 20 together into barrel shape and inserts through-the loops of the hoops the thin strip 26 and the wedge strip 30, then inserts the heads in their position beneath the blocks-5 and on 'topof the enlarged portions of the posts 7 and then drives the wedged shaped piece 28 between the strips 26 and 30, locking and completing the crate.

When it is to be filled, the operator places the crate 1n the form, shown in Fig. 6 and unlocks the crate and turns back a portion edge of the form. After filling the crate he brings the staves together over the contents and locks the crate as set out befor Upon receiving the filled crate, the heads Vstaves rolled around the crate, or in any other convenient manner.

It will be'seerf'by this mode of construction, that the crate will be exceedingly strong, easily made and with very little cost, and very j little expense for returning the crate for future shipment. 7

Having now described my invention .what Iclaimis: V 7

1. A crate including staves, hoops connected to the staves and having terminal loops, and a series of cooperating and removable strips engaging all of said loops, certain of said strips being of wedge f0rmation. 7 r g r 2. A crate including staves, hoops connected with the respective staves-and having terminal loops adapted to a'line when the staves are in crate forming relation, and a locking member to engage all of said loops and comprisingspaced sections one or which has a wedgeformed edge, and an intermediate wedge section to be forced between said spaced sections.

3. A crate including-a series of staves, r'eo inforcing strips secured to the outer edges of the staves, hoops connected to said reinforcing strips and terminating in loops, and a locking member made up of" separable strips to engage all of said loops.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence'of two witnesses.

WALTER o. KELso. Witnesses:

J. C. DUNN, G. L. Con. 

